Chapter 21 Business Proposal
Driving straight through their meeting place, she reached the place in just about ten minutes. When she entered the food establishment and proceeded to their reserved table as she was guided by the maitre d', her heart suddenly skipped a beat when she finally saw Thyago from afar. He was scanning her features while she walks forwardly to his place. Did he immediately noticed and recognized her? How long he had been waiting? Did she keep him waiting? Well as far as she was concerned, she just arrived in time.
She somehow bothers to look at her wristwatch to make sure of the time. As she continued walking through their reserved table, l confidently stared back at him while deep inside she was trying to make herself calm and relaxed. She undauntedly met those penetrating blue eyes and that made some havoc in her feelings again just like before. That warm gust of feeling she felt the very first time she met him way back in her teenage days was the same but this is more deep and intense. Strange, because instead of castigating herself, her heart reveled in too much pleasure. It's kinda like a warm feeling that she has been longing for and she can do nothing but to savor the feeling instead of resisting it.
The Thyago she could see now was more confident and looking more dangerous. He had grown mature of course. Gone was the boyish look but he turned out to be a very attractive man who posses such confidence and appeal. He still have the same overpowering presence, the very same striking features he possessed that every woman will be intrigued but he was more intimidating now.
"Hi! It's good to see you again." Thyago cheerfully greeted her. With that, it seems like she had awakened from her dream. Her face darken as she remembered the past.
Good to see me again? Save that to yourself, you moron! How can you cheerfully say that after what we've gone through? I don't understand this warm and cheerful greeting. Should I be suspicious about it?
"Good to see you too... " She answered in a very formal way then gave him an awkward smile.
His sweet smile vanished and turned somber as if he didn't like the treatment she gave him. What would he expect? Greet him like they were close? They seated and started to order food afterward. She tried to breathe normally and relaxed herself so she can relay her purpose with ease and confidence.
"So shall we get down to business, Mr. Williams? " She started.
"Mr. Williams? Too much formality, Bea. You looked stunning. I never thought you will grow such a beautiful and attractive woman. It was so nice to see you again!" He complimented as his eyes surveyed her from toes to head.
Instead of being pleased, she felt disappointed and insulted by what he said. Does that mean he had imagined her to get stuck in her nerdy old fashioned clothes? That thinking made her blood boil out of irritation. Well, guess what? She is no longer the old stupid and gullible Bea he once knew before.
"That I won't believe. I don't expect you to give me such treatment like this Mr. Williams. Being happy to see me is way out of my expectation when you agreed to set a meeting with me Mr. Williams." She couldn't help to retort.
"Come on, Bea. It's not like we've never been close before." He replied zealously trying to make the conversation comfy.
"It's not like you avoided me like I have some kind of a contagious disease." She snapped back in a sarcastic way. She breathed out, trying to control herself.
What is this act he was trying to portray like he was happy to see her again? It's not like he was not the same person who told her to stay away from him eight years ago.
She knew this is out of professionalism but she don't care anymore. She might lose this big project if she continued to be rude but to hell with this damn project! This guy in front of her is pissing her off with this shit pretending and all. Now she regrets meeting him in the first place. How could he bring the past like it was some kind of good memory to recall when it has been the hardest time she had been through in her teenage days. She has lost her confidence and gets bullied for Pete's sake! What she has gone through made damage to her self-esteem that traumatized her. Because of him, she had learned to loathed her teenage life because all she could remember was hatred and pain. He hurt, avoided, and told her to stay away from her and now after eight years, he was acting like they had a good and amazing friendship to remember? That is not funny at all. In fact, she felt insulted.
"Hey, relaxed, Bea. I don't mean any war. I'm here for business." He stated as if he got alarmed.
"Good thing because I'm here for business as well." She snapped back.
"You know what? I was wondering why you're proposing business to me knowing what we went through in the past? I just don't quite understand why chose my firm when a lot of competitive firms have established their name all over the country?" She asked him frankly.
Not that she was underestimating her firm. They both knew that her firm was new in comparison to huge designing firms that have established and proven their credibility all over the country. With the big Corporation he has, he could even hire a world-class designing team than settle with her new interior designers. Not that she was underrating the capabilities of her designing team but she knew there were a lot of competitive and more experienced designers out there.
She heard him let out a frustrated sigh and cleared his throat before he answered her.
"Listen, I know we had a not-so-good past way back in our teenage days. I'm sorry if I upset you with my greetings I was just trying to make the conversation easy for us but it turned out you misinterpreted me. Can we set aside the past and be professionals here? I'm really sorry but I do mean business here." He explained formally. He looked hurt and offended and that somehow stunned her.
"Oh... " the only words she blurted out. Guilt suddenly engulfed her as she slowly bow her head in embarrassment.
Where is my calm disposition for Pete's sake! This is so embarrassing! I promised myself to act professionally in front of him but I got carried away with my feelings. It turned out I was the one acting unprofessional and overreacting based on my actions.
"I'm sorry. " She apologized. His face was still serious and offended and that made her guilty more.
"Let's get down to business, Ms. Watson." He started calling her by her last name.
"So what can I do for you, Mr. Williams? " She asked professionally. He cleared her throat then stared back at her blankly before he spoke.
"Well, as my assistant informed you, we are developing this hotel and resort in Austin, Texas. We want your expertise in Interior Designing and we thought of asking for your services in this project." He stated seriously.
"Okay, I have good and competitive designers that you might want to hire. Let's set an appointment for you to meet them so you can choose who's designers will handle the project. I will recommend you my best designers that will satisfy your taste." she answered.
"Sorry, I think you got me wrong, Miss Watson. I want you to be the main designer to handle the project. This project is extravagant and it cost a very huge amount of money so we want them to be done very expertly. It's you that we wanted not just any ordinary interior designer from your firm. Of course, you'll surely have backup designers but I want you personally to handle the project." He stated firmly.
"You don't understand Mr. Williams but I'm now handling the firm. I am very busy and I don't have time to design anymore. I have a bunch of designers who can do the project and as I've said they were creative and very competitive in Interior Designing Industry. They have fresh and eccentric designs that will surely impress--"
"I'm sorry but we're asking you to be the main designer in this project. We want your expertise and creativity. You Ms. Watson, not your designers. If you can't be the main designer, then I'm afraid that I have to take back my offer." He insisted.
She pulled out a frustrated sigh and think for a while. She wants to get the project so badly. It was a huge opportunity for the firm and it offers a big amount of money. If she got this project, her plan for the firm expansion will be sooner than she expected. Tiger Estate Corporation is an international real estate company and this will be a great success and achievement for the firm if she got this project. She thought deeply for a moment until she came up with the decision she have to make.
"So what now, Ms. Watson? I'm waiting for your decision." Thyago stated in a bored voice that made her more irritated.
"I'll take it. " She finally decided.
She didn't know if she was in the haste of making decisions because usually, she ask time to think until she make a decision but this time, she immediately said yes and there is no turning back. Her name is at stake and it would be unprofessionalism if she took back her answers and ask a time to think it over. She was too preoccupied to even notice the sly smile that automatically painted on Thyago's lips.
"So it's a deal?" he said as he offered his hand. She glance at his hand for a moment before she accepted it and that made Thyago's eyes gleam in amazement.
"It's a deal then." She replied back.
She felt Thyago slightly squeezed her hand so her eyes automatically went straight through him and gave him a dark and questioning look.
"Can we forget the past and start a new beginning just for the project, Miss Watson?" She felt sincerity towards his voice.
"Sure." She replied and that made him smile warmly.
"Just for the project indeed." She added meaningfully.
She couldn't understand if she was imagining things but she saw his warm smile vanished and turned into a serious face after hearing that. Did she say something wrong? Did he got offended or what? But she doesn't remember saying anything wrong? She suddenly regret the words she delivered. Foolish of her, they already had a good rapport yet she spoiled it.
That night, they separated closing the deal. Thyago offered to bring her home but she declined. She told him she brought a car and she never lied on that part. He nod as a reply as he gave her that disappointed look. She couldn't understand but it seems like he still wanted to say something but he just chose not to say it before they finally separate ways. Whatever it is she just didn't mind it anyway. It's a good thing she got the project, she just suddenly got worried for that only means there would be a chance they will meet a lot of times. It's only a put business and nothing more. She was just hoping she didn't make the wrong decision this time.